Berlin, 27.09.2024 – Today, the Federal Council discussed the Telecommunications Network Expansion Acceleration Act (TK-NABEG). Sven Knapp, Head of the Capital Office at the German Broadband Association (BREKO), explains:

“BREKO supports the clear criticism by the federal states of the German government’s draft TK-NABEG. In particular, three fundamental improvements demanded by the Bundesrat are urgently needed so that the TK-NABEG really deserves the name ‘Acceleration Act’:

The definition of “overriding public interest” must apply equally to mobile and fiber-optic expansion, as there are no objective reasons to differentiate between the two infrastructures. A regulation must be included to ensure that Deutsche Telekom switches off its DSL networks promptly wherever fiber optic connections are available nationwide – including in the expansion areas of its competitors. And effective measures must be included in the TK-NABEG against Deutsche Telekom’s strategically destructive dual fiber-optic expansion.

The Federal Government and the Bundestag should support these constructive proposals of the Bundesrat and thus prove that the self-proclaimed ‘progress coalition’ is capable of effectively improving the framework conditions for the fastest possible, nationwide expansion of mobile communications and fiber optics.”